Profiles
Dr Thomas Davies
Lecturer in Marine Conservation
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
11/2019: Lecturer in Marine Conservation, University of Plymouth.
10/2017 - 10/2019: Sêr Cymru II Independent Research Fellow, Bangor University, Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund. ‘Artificial light impacts on the encroachment of non-native species’
04/2017 – 08/2017: Research Fellow, University of Exeter, NERC Valuing Nature placement. ‘Addressing the influence of human values on selective investment in conservation priorities’.
05/2011 – 03/2017: Research Fellow, University of Exeter. ECOLIGHT: The ecological impacts of artificial light at night.
01/2006 - 09/2006: Marine Curatorial Assistant, National Museum and Galleries of Wales, Cardiff. Sorting and identification of marine benthic invertebrate samples collected for the HABMAP project.
07/2005 - 01/2006: Launch Coxswain, Island Cruising Club, Salcombe.
10/2017 - 10/2019: Sêr Cymru II Independent Research Fellow, Bangor University, Welsh Government and the European Regional Development Fund. ‘Artificial light impacts on the encroachment of non-native species’
04/2017 – 08/2017: Research Fellow, University of Exeter, NERC Valuing Nature placement. ‘Addressing the influence of human values on selective investment in conservation priorities’.
05/2011 – 03/2017: Research Fellow, University of Exeter. ECOLIGHT: The ecological impacts of artificial light at night.
01/2006 - 09/2006: Marine Curatorial Assistant, National Museum and Galleries of Wales, Cardiff. Sorting and identification of marine benthic invertebrate samples collected for the HABMAP project.
07/2005 - 01/2006: Launch Coxswain, Island Cruising Club, Salcombe.
Qualifications
2007 - 2011: Ph.D. Marine Ecology, Bangor University, Thesis: Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in coastal marine communities: towards predicting the consequences of extinction for ecosystem functioning in natural assemblages
2006 - 2007: M.Sc. Marine Environmental Protection, Bangor University. Project title: Does physical disturbance moderate the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function in subtidal benthic communities?
2002 - 2005: B.Sc. (Hons) Marine Biology & Oceanography, University of Plymouth.
2006 - 2007: M.Sc. Marine Environmental Protection, Bangor University. Project title: Does physical disturbance moderate the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function in subtidal benthic communities?
2002 - 2005: B.Sc. (Hons) Marine Biology & Oceanography, University of Plymouth.
Teaching Qualifications
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Key publications
(2017) 'Artificial light at night alters trophic interactions of intertidal invertebrates' Journal of Animal Ecology 86, 781-789 , DOI
(2017) 'Multiple night-time light-emitting diode lighting strategies impact grassland invertebrate assemblages' Global Change Biology 23, 2641-2648 , DOI
(2015) 'Night-time lighting alters the composition of marine epifaunal communities' Biology Letters 11, , DOI
(2014) 'Contrasting trends in light pollution across Europe based on satellite observed night time lights' Scientific Reports 4, (0) 0-0 , DOI
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
I teach on:-MAR530 Managing Marine Ecosystems (Module Lead)
MAR532 Marine Conservation Practice
MAR513 Research Skills and Methods
MAR533 Marine Conservation Project
OS301 Ocean Science Research Project
OS312 Marine Science Field Course (The Isles of Scilly)
OS304 Marine Ecosystem Conservation
OS205 Managing Human Impacts in the Marine Environment (Module Lead)
OS206 Researching the Marine Environment.
MAR532 Marine Conservation Practice
MAR513 Research Skills and Methods
MAR533 Marine Conservation Project
OS301 Ocean Science Research Project
OS312 Marine Science Field Course (The Isles of Scilly)
OS304 Marine Ecosystem Conservation
OS205 Managing Human Impacts in the Marine Environment (Module Lead)
OS206 Researching the Marine Environment.
Research
Research
Research interests
Thomas has researched the ecological impacts of artificial light at night for more than a decade, specializing in how marine ecosystems are responding to the changing lightscapes of our oceans. He was Principal Investigator of the Natural Environment Research Council funded Artificial Light Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems (ALICE) project (2019-2024) and is a co-investigator on the Horizon Europe funded Aquatic Pollution from Light and Noise (AquaPLAN) project (2024-2028). In 2023 he cofounded the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN) with Dr Tim Smyth to provide a central resource for understanding and managing the impacts of light pollution in the sea.
To find out more about light pollution, and its impacts in the sea visit www.goalann.org
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
Current PhD students
Emma Moyse:University of Plymouth. Impacts of Artificial Light at Night on Visual Ecology. Supervised by Thomas Davies (University of Plymouth), Louise Firth (University of Plymouth) and Tim Smyth (Plymouth Marine Laboratory). Started October 2021
Leo Burke:Bangor University. Artificial Skyglow Impacts on the Chronobiology of Marine Organisms. Supervised by Amy Ellison (Bangor University), Stuart Jenkins (Bangor University), David Wilcockson (Aberystwyth University), and Thomas Davies (University of Plymouth). Started October 2020.
Grants & contracts
2023: Co-I Lead (£376,843) €3.5M Horizon Research & Innovation Action. Aquatic Pollution from Light and Anthropogenic Noise (AquaPLAN) University of Plymouth, University of Pisa (Lead), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Bar-Ilan University, University of Leiden, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, CEFAS, Institute of Marine Research Norway, ERINN Innovation, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, The University of Adelaide.
2018: PI (£1.7M) NERC ‘Artificial Light Impacts on Coastal Ecosystems (ALICE)’. University of Plymouth, Bangor University, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, University of Southampton, University of Strathclyde.
2017: PI (£16,198) National Geographic Explorer Grant. ‘In search of darkness: mapping the distribution of artificial light at night in a heavily urbanized temperate estuary’. [Davies (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University), Smyth (Plymouth Marine Laboratory), and McKee (University of Strathclyde)]
2017: PI (£209,047)Sêr Cymru II Independent Research Fellowship. European Regional Development Fund. ‘Artificial Light Impacts on the Encroachment of Non-native Species (ALIENS)’ [Davies (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University)]
2017: PI (£19,426) NERC Valuing Nature placement. ‘Addressing the influence of human values on selective investment in conservation priorities’ [Davies (Center for Geography, Environment and Society, University of Exeter)]
2015: PI(£2,458) Plymouth Marine Laboratory – Exeter collaboration fund. ‘Impacts of light pollution on benthic ecosystems’ [Davies (Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter) and Queiros (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)]
2017: PI (£16,198) National Geographic Explorer Grant. ‘In search of darkness: mapping the distribution of artificial light at night in a heavily urbanized temperate estuary’. [Davies (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University), Smyth (Plymouth Marine Laboratory), and McKee (University of Strathclyde)]
2017: PI (£209,047)Sêr Cymru II Independent Research Fellowship. European Regional Development Fund. ‘Artificial Light Impacts on the Encroachment of Non-native Species (ALIENS)’ [Davies (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University)]
2017: PI (£19,426) NERC Valuing Nature placement. ‘Addressing the influence of human values on selective investment in conservation priorities’ [Davies (Center for Geography, Environment and Society, University of Exeter)]
2015: PI(£2,458) Plymouth Marine Laboratory – Exeter collaboration fund. ‘Impacts of light pollution on benthic ecosystems’ [Davies (Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter) and Queiros (Plymouth Marine Laboratory)]
Creative practice & artistic projects
2013: PI(£2,000) CATALYST funded outreach. St Just night walks. [Davies (Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter)]
Publications
Publications
Key publications
(2017) 'Artificial light at night alters trophic interactions of intertidal invertebrates' Journal of Animal Ecology 86, 781-789 , DOI
(2017) 'Multiple night-time light-emitting diode lighting strategies impact grassland invertebrate assemblages' Global Change Biology 23, 2641-2648 , DOI
(2015) 'Night-time lighting alters the composition of marine epifaunal communities' Biology Letters 11, , DOI
(2014) 'Contrasting trends in light pollution across Europe based on satellite observed night time lights' Scientific Reports 4, (0) 0-0 , DOI
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2023) 'Artificial light at night alters predation on colour-polymorphic camouflaged prey' Basic and Applied Ecology , DOI Open access
(2023) 'Impacts of artificial light at night on the early life history of two ecosystem engineers' Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 378, (1892) , DOI Open access
(2023) 'Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts behavioural patterns of reef corals' Marine Pollution Bulletin 194, , DOI Open access
(2023) 'Global disruption of coral broadcast spawning associated with artificial light at night' Nature Communications , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Disruption of marine habitats by artificial light at night from global coastal megacities' Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 10, (1) Publisher Site , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Long‐term effects of artificial nighttime lighting and trophic complexity on plant biomass and foliar carbon and nitrogen in a grassland community' Ecology and Evolution 12, (8) , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Artificial light at night reverses monthly foraging pattern under simulated moonlight' Biology Letters , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Impacts of Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) in marine ecosystems – a review' Global Change Biology , DOI Open access
(2022) 'Broad spectrum artificial light at night increases the conspicuousness of camouflaged prey' Journal of Applied Ecology , DOI Open access
(2021) 'A global atlas of artificial light at night under the sea' Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 9, (1) , DOI Open access
(2021) '11 pressing research questions on how light pollution affects biodiversity' Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution , DOI Open access
(2021) 'Marine artificial light at night: An empirical and technical guide' Methods in Ecology and Evolution , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Biologically important artificial Light at night on the seafloor' Scientific Reports , DOI Open access
(2020) 'The global extent of artificial light pollution in the marine environment' Publisher Site , DOI
(2019) 'Enhanced flow-motion complexity of skin microvascular perfusion in Sherpas and lowlanders during ascent to high altitude' Scientific Reports 9, (1) Publisher Site , DOI
(2019) 'Mapping the consequences of artificial light at night for intertidal ecosystems' Science of the Total Environment 691, 760-768
(2019) 'Correction: Popular interest in vertebrates does not reflect extinction risk and is associated with bias in conservation investment' PLOS ONE 14, (2) e0212101-e0212101 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Popular interest in vertebrates does not reflect extinction risk and is associated with bias in conservation investment' PLoS ONE 13, , DOI
(2018) 'Sustained vasomotor control of skin microcirculation in Sherpas <i>versus</i> altitude‐naive lowlanders: Experimental evidence from Xtreme Everest 2' Experimental Physiology 103, (11) 1494-1504 Publisher Site , DOI
(2018) 'Artificial Light at Night Causes Top‐down and Bottom‐up Trophic Effects on Invertebrate Populations' Journal of Applied Ecology 55, 2698–2706-2698–2706 , DOI
(2017) 'Why artificial light at night should be a focus for global change research in the 21st century' Global Change Biology 24, 872-882 , DOI
(2017) 'Impacts of Artificial Light at Night on Biological Timings' Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 48, (1) 49-68 Publisher Site , DOI
(2017) 'Delimiting species of Protaphorura (Collembola: Onychiuridae): integrative evidence based on morphology, DNA sequences and geography' Scientific Reports 7, , DOI
(2017) 'Artificial light at night alters grassland vegetation species composition and phenology' Journal of Applied Ecology 442-450 , DOI
(2017) 'Artificial light at night alters trophic interactions of intertidal invertebrates' Journal of Animal Ecology 86, 781-789 , DOI
(2017) 'Multiple night-time light-emitting diode lighting strategies impact grassland invertebrate assemblages' Global Change Biology 23, 2641-2648 , DOI
(2016) 'Ecological effects of artificial light at night on wild plants' Journal of Ecology 104, 611-620 , DOI
(2015) 'Artificial nighttime light changes aphid-parasitoid population dynamics' Scientific Reports 5, 15232-15232 , DOI
(2015) 'Corrigendum: Worldwide variations in artificial skyglow (Scientific Reports 5 (8409) DOI: 10.1038/srep08409)' Scientific Reports 5, , DOI
(2015) 'Stemming the Tide of Light Pollution Encroaching into Marine Protected Areas' Conservation Letters 9, 164-171 , DOI
(2015) 'Getting the most from venous occlusion plethysmography: proposed methods for the analysis of data with a rest/exercise protocol' Extreme Physiology & Medicine 4, (1) Publisher Site , DOI
(2015) 'Cascading effects of artificial light at night: Resource-mediated control of herbivores in a grassland ecosystem' Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 370, , DOI
(2015) 'Night-time lighting alters the composition of marine epifaunal communities' Biology Letters 11, , DOI
(2015) 'Global trends in exposure to light pollution in natural terrestrial ecosystems' Remote Sensing 7, 2715-2730 , DOI
(2014) 'Human alteration of natural light cycles: causes and ecological consequences' Oecologia 176, 917-931 , DOI
(2014) 'The nature, extent, and ecological implications of marine light pollution' Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 12, 347-355 , DOI
(2014) 'Potential biological and ecological effects of flickering artificial light' PLoS ONE 9, , DOI
(2014) 'Quantifying recovery rates and resilience of seabed habitats impacted by bottom fishing' Journal of Applied Ecology 51, 1326-1336 , DOI
(2014) 'Mapping artificial lightscapes for ecological studies' Methods in Ecology and Evolution 5, 534-540 , DOI
(2014) 'Contrasting trends in light pollution across Europe based on satellite observed night time lights' Scientific Reports 4, (0) 0-0 , DOI
(2013) 'Artificial light alters natural regimes of night-time sky brightness' Scientific Reports 3, , DOI
(2013) 'The ecological impacts of nighttime light pollution: A mechanistic appraisal' Biological Reviews 88, 912-927 , DOI
(2013) 'Artificial light pollution: Are shifting spectral signatures changing the balance of species interactions?' Global Change Biology 19, 1417-1423 , DOI
(2012) 'Reducing the ecological consequences of night-time light pollution: Options and developments' Journal of Applied Ecology 49, 1256-1266 , DOI
(2012) 'Extirpation-resistant species do not always compensate for the decline in ecosystem processes associated with biodiversity loss' Journal of Ecology 100, 1475-1481 , DOI
(2012) 'Street lighting changes the composition of invertebrate communities' Biology Letters 8, 764-767 , DOI
(2011) 'Dominance, Biomass and Extinction Resistance Determine the Consequences of Biodiversity Loss for Multiple Coastal Ecosystem Processes' PLoS ONE 6, e28362-e28362 , DOI
(2009) 'Context dependency of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is different for multiple ecosystem functions' Oikos 118, 1892-1900 , DOI